Dani Dyer has opened up about the emotional toll of her Strictly Come Dancing exit last year, revealing she was left “heartbroken for days” after an injury forced her to leave the competition.
The former Love Island winner returned to the BBC ballroom for the 2026 series on Saturday night, where she was given another chance to compete — and reunited with the professional dancer she had hoped to dance with again, Nikita Kuzmin.
Dani Dyer Reveals How Strictly Exit Affected Her
Dani Dyer’s first Strictly journey ended abruptly in 2025 after an injury prevented her from continuing in the competition.
Speaking to the show’s new presenting team — Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe — Dani explained just how difficult the experience had been.
The 30-year-old said she was devastated after being forced to withdraw and spent several days struggling to come to terms with what had happened.
She also recalled isolating herself in her bedroom before her mum encouraged her to get back on her feet and focus on her three children.
Dani later said she felt extremely grateful when Strictly invited her to return for another opportunity.
Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin Reunited
One of the biggest talking points from the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 launch show was Dani’s reunion with Nikita Kuzmin.
The pair had originally been partnered in the previous series, but their time together ended before they could properly compete after Dani’s injury.
When Dani discovered that Nikita would once again be her professional partner, she made it clear how delighted she was.
Nikita was equally emotional about the reunion, describing his reaction as one of joy after seeing Dani celebrate the pairing. The 2026 series therefore marks the first time a celebrity and professional pairing has returned together for a second series of competition.
Dani Wanted a Second Chance With Nikita
Before the pairings were announced, Dani admitted she was hoping for another opportunity with Nikita.
She explained that they had connected quickly during their first Strictly experience, making the sudden end of their partnership particularly difficult.
For Dani, being reunited with Nikita represents more than simply another celebrity-professional pairing. It gives her the opportunity to continue a Strictly journey that was cut short before she had the chance to show what she could do on the live dancefloor.
The emotional reunion has already become one of the standout moments from the new series.
A Completely New Strictly Pairing Format
The 2026 launch show also introduced a major change to the way Strictly celebrities meet their professional partners.
Instead of revealing each pairing through the familiar pre-recorded segments, celebrities and professional dancers were brought together during group routines on the dancefloor.
The new format meant the contestants had to wait for the reveal while taking part in specially choreographed performances.
That made Dani’s reunion with Nikita particularly memorable, as viewers watched the moment unfold during the new-style launch.
Strictly 2026 Welcomes New Hosts
Dani’s return comes during a major transition for Strictly Come Dancing.
The 2026 series is being presented by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, who have taken over following the departures of long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
The new presenting trio opened the latest series alongside the professional dancers and judges before helping introduce the new celebrity contestants and their partnerships.
The series features 15 celebrities and 15 professional dancers, with several new professionals also joining the Strictly line-up.
Dani Dyer Back on the Strictly Ballroom
Dani became a household name after winning Love Island in 2018 and has since appeared across television, reality shows and entertainment programmes.
Her return to Strictly has attracted particular attention because viewers already know the story behind her first attempt.
This time, Dani has another opportunity to step onto the ballroom floor with Nikita and show audiences what might have happened if injury had not interrupted their first partnership.
With the first live show approaching, fans will now be watching closely to see how the reunited pair perform when the competition officially gets under way.
Dani Dyer’s Strictly Comeback Begins
Dani Dyer’s Strictly comeback combines unfinished business, an emotional return and a reunion with a familiar professional partner.
After describing her previous exit as a deeply upsetting experience, the former Love Island star has now been handed another chance to compete for the Strictly Come Dancing Glitterball Trophy.
And with Nikita Kuzmin back by her side, Dani’s 2026 journey has already delivered one of the most talked-about moments from the Strictly launch.
The live competition begins next Saturday, when Dani and the rest of the 2026 cast take to the ballroom floor for their first performances.
The source of this news is The Standard.